Jeremy Corbyn set to pledge expansion to free childcare hours for parents

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, 69, is expected to pledge an expansion of free childcare for parents in his conference speech in Liverpool this weekend.

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Jeremy is expected to say that Labour will also offer extra, means-tested subsidised hours on top of the 30 hour ‘genuinely free’ allowance, which Labour have previously promised.

The means-tested subsidised hours will be free for the poorest households and cost no more than £4 per hour for those with higher incomes.

According to the BBC Jeremy is expected to say: ‘Opportunity matters most in the earliest years of life.

‘It is a crucial time to open up children's life chances. Driving up standards of childcare will make that vital difference for millions of our children.’

He is also expected to say that the current offer is ‘free in name only’ and will describe Labour’s ‘universal’ offer as a ‘vital and long over due change’.

The government currently offers 15 hours of free childcare for three and four-year-olds. Some three and four-year-olds are eligible for 30 hours of free childcare a week for children who live in England.

The hours can usually only be taken in term time, which works out to be around 38 weeks a year - a total of 570 hours.

You can begin claiming your free hours from the term after your child’s third birthday.

The hours must be approved by a childcare provider and stops when your child starts reception class (or when they reach compulsory school age, if this is later).